HomeMy WebLinkAboutADDITIONAL Biz re: Draft Letter to Consulate
Phone (360) 385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
Board of County Commissioners
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Heather Dudley-Nollette, District 1 Heidi Eisenhour, District 2 Greg Brotherton, District 3
January 20, 2026
Re: Emergency / Expedited Appointment Request
Dear Consular Officer:
On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners for Jefferson County, Washington, we submit this letter in
support of an expedited appointment request for Dr. Amit Sharma, a member of the Washington State
University (WSU) Extension faculty and Jefferson County’s Senior Management Team. Dr. Sharma’s
continued in-person presence is required to carry out essential public service responsibilities in our county,
much of which meets the definition of a distressed area.
Jefferson County is a predominately rural county with a strong reliance on agriculture, working lands, and
natural resource stewardship. WSU Extension is a critical partner providing applied research, technical
assistance, and public-facing education and training. This work helps local producers remain viable, strengthens
local food systems, and ensures responsible natural resource management. These services are publicly funded
and deliver direct, measurable, benefits to U.S. communities.
Dr. Sharma has established strong professional ties in Jefferson County through sustained collaboration with
citizens, county departments, and community organizations. This work depends heavily on trust, continuity, and
in-person engagement. Prolonged absence from the United States has created operational gaps in programs that
are already funded, under implementation, and time-sensitive. These efforts cannot be fully supported remotely
over an extended period and depend on the expertise, trust, and relationships that Mr. Sharma has built
intentionally over time.
The urgency of this request reflects the essential business nature of extension services at the outset of the
calendar year. In-person presence is critical at this juncture for program implementation, field engagement, and
coordination with county and community partners to establish goals, objectives, and annual work plans. Dr.
Sharma is an integral member of our team, and his unexpected absence reverberates throughout the organization
and the greater community. Continued delay in his return to work risks disruption to services that directly and
positively support rural economic stability, agricultural productivity, and responsible resource management in
Jefferson County.
We recognize and respect the importance of visa review processes and appreciate the care with which they are
administered. We respectfully request consideration of an expedited appointment request to allow Dr. Sharma to
return to the United States to resume these essential public service duties without further interruption.
Respectfully,
___________________________ ___________________________ _________________________
Heather Dudley-Nollette Heidi Eisenhour Greg Brotherton, Chair